The U Visa serves as a beacon of hope for victims of crime in the United States, offering them a path to safety, security, and ultimately, an opportunity to become permanent residents. For those fortunate enough to have their U Visa approved, the next logical step is to consider the process of...
Category: U Visa / Victims of Criminal Activity
Understanding U Visas: A Guide for Crime Victims with Past Convictions
In the realm of immigration law, U Visas emerge as a critical provision for individuals who've experienced the trauma of being victims of certain crimes. This non-immigrant status is designed to encourage victims to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement without the fear of being deported. But what about those victims...
Empowering Foreign Workers: DHS’s New Deferred Action Process
In a significant development aimed at bolstering the rights and protections of foreign workers in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the implementation of a streamlined process for these individuals to request deferred action. This announcement marks a pivotal step forward in ensuring that foreign workers who...
USCIS POLICY ALERT: Preserving Continuous Residence and Physical Presence for Purposes of Naturalization while Engaged in Religious Duties Outside the United States
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding applicants’ registration to vote through a state’s department of motor vehicles or other state benefit application process and the effects on an applicant’s good moral character (GMC).
Policy Highlights
• Clarifies that USCIS will not penalize an applicant who unknowingly...
USCIS Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization
As of May 21, 2021, U.S. citizens will be able to use their expired U.S. passports to return to the United States through December 31, 2021.
Travelers qualify for this exception if all the following are true:
• They are a U.S. citizen.
• They are currently abroad seeking to return to the United States....
USCIS Reverts Naturalization Civics Test to 2008 Version
If confirmed by the Senate, Juddou will lead an agency that is looking to tackle visa and naturalization backlogs, avoid future budgetary concerns and address cumbersome agency processes.
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https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/biden-taps-nominee-with-experience-to-lead-immigration-agency
Visa Backlog, Budget Issues Await Immigration Agency Nominee (1) (Source: Bloomberg Law)
Over the past week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services celebrated Independence Day by welcoming more than 9,400 new citizens in 170 naturalization ceremonies between June 30 and July 7. These ceremonies demonstrate our commitment to welcoming immigrants. We are proud to welcome people from all over the world as our newest U.S. citizens during...
USCIS Accepts the Ombudsman’s Recommendation to Adopt Parole Policy for U Visa Petitioners and Family Members
One of the issues facing many immigrants in the United States is the choice between reporting a horrific crime and risk being deported or to live with the pain and fear of being a victim of the crime again. With the climate we are living in currently, more than ever immigrants fear coming forward...
USCIS UPDATES POLICY GUIDANCE ON NATURALIZATION APPLICANTS WHO DID NOT PROPERLY OBTAIN LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS.
USCIS announced plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency first announced plans to revise the civics test in July 2019.
USCIS revised the civics test as part of a decennial update to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and civic...
USCIS Message: USCIS Issues Policy Update to Better Protect Victims of Crime (U Visa Petitioners)
On Nov. 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the circumstances when USCIS will find applicants ineligible for naturalization because they were not lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Applicants are ineligible for naturalization if they obtained lawful permanent residence (LPR) status in error, by...